The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 347: what you’re looking at

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ee 332 OD SARE ers ite eS Lo ing look to his face: his lips were compressed—and though the nature of his thoughts could not be decyphered, yet was it full evident that it was no agreeable tupic on which he was pondering. The doctor, finding that he did not renew the conversa- tion, threw himself back in his corner of the car- riage, and gave way to his own reflections. He thought of the discovery he had made in respect to the anatomized corpse—his visit te Bob Shakerly at the knacker’s yard—the old man whom he had taken into his house: and he thought likewise, as indeed he often and deeply thought, of that un- known lady whom he had loved so long, and with such a profound, constant, enduring affection ! The horses went quick; and in less than half-an- hour from the moment they had started from the physician’s house in Conduit Street, the equipage dashed through the iron gates of the railings fencing the grounds ‘in the midst of which the Earl of Castlemaine’s mansion stood. The gas-lamps were still burning beneath the portico; and the moment the vehicle stopped, the lrall-porter opened the front-door. Lord Castlemaine alighted, followed by the doctor; and he led the way up a splendid staircase, into a drawing-room where lights were burning. “Sit down,” said the Earl: “for I must speak to you for afew minutes. Her ladyship,” he continued, after a brief pause, during which he appeared to nerve himself as it were with an cffort to give ex- pression to what he was compelled to say, “was taken ill just now on our return from a party at the Duke of Harcourt’s. I do not know that her illness is at all dangerous—I do not think it is:” and his lips curled strangely as he thus spoke—it might be jn scorn—it inight be with other emotions—but which it was impossible to decide, ‘At all events, doctor,” he continued, * you will svon ascertain: and observe! I desire that you: communicate to me the exact truth.” “ Wherefore, my lord, should you address me in this manuer?” asked the physician, with a certain dignity not unblended with indignation in his looks. “Tf you have no faith in me, Ll cannot consider it an honour that you have called me in upon this occasion.” ‘“My dear Dr. Ferney, you must not be angry with ine,” said the Karl of Castlemaine, taking the physician’s hand and pressing it with more warmth than he was generally accustomed to display. “ But perhaps you will understand me better presently. You can now ascend to her ladyship’s chamb-r—you know the way—lI shall await you here.” The physician accordingly quitted the drawing- room; and mounting the next flight of stairs, reached a landing whence two long, carpetted, and splen- didly decorated corridors branched olf — one to the right wing of the building, the other to the left. In the latter, and at the extremity of the corridor leading thither, the Marl of Castlemaine’s own private chambers were situated ; while pre- cisely at the opposite extremity—namely, in the right wing—was the elegant suite of apartments oe- cupled by her ladyship. Dr. Ferney, who knew the way well, turned into the brilliantly lighted corridor leading to the rooms of the Countess; and passing by soime admirable specimeus of sculpture —some im- THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. of the ante-chamber. Kuocking gently, it was un- mediately opened by the principal lady’s-maid of the Countess. She was a woman of about forty— highly respectable—diserect and reserved—not given to gossipping nor scandal—and devoledly attached to her mistress. She was weeping—and, indeed, looked much distressed. The moment the door was opened, the doctor’s ear caught wild and delirious cries; and he recoguised the voice of Lady Castle- maine. ‘Ts your mistress very bad, Mrs. Broughton ?” inquired Ferney, as he entered the ante-chamber. “Oh, sir—she is raving. For God’s sake, come!” Mrs. Broughton accordingly led the physician through a sitting-room fitted up with mingled cost- liness and taste—thence into a boudoir furnished in a still more elegant manner—and thence again into a spacious and handsome bed-chamber, where Lady Castlemaine was sitting upon a sofa, giving vent to those delirious cries whieh the doctor had heard, and struggling with two of her maids. The elegant apparel which she had worn at the ball, had been torn off her—a morning wrapper enveloped her form—her hair was hanging in disorder over her half-naked shoulders-—her face was pale—her fea- tures were distorted: there was frenzy in her looks, and delirium in her ravings. But the moment Dr. Ferney made his appearance, she either recognised him, or else became overawed at the presence of a man—and instantaneously ceasing her cries, threw herself back upon the sofa. Dr Ferney bade the two junior maids retire for the present, while he remained alone with Lady Castlemaine and Mrs. Broughton. Then he spoke in soothing tones to her ladyship: but she did not appear to comprehend him. She gazed in a sort of vacant wildness upon his countenince for several minutes: then suddenly placing her hands before her eyes, she gave a subdued shrick and sank back insensible. ‘The proper resturatives were admi- nistered; and when the Countess was returning to herself, the other maids were summoned from the adjoining apartment to convey her to ber couch, Scarcely however was she deposited in the bed, when the ravings of her delirium broke forth anew: and Dr. Ferney wrote a prescription which he desired micht be sent off to the neare.t chemist’s at once, The two junior maids were again dismissed from the room; and when they had retired, Dr. Ferney, taking advantage of a temporary lull on the untor- tunate lady’s part, said, “* Tell me, Mrs. Broughton, how all this came about.” “ My lord and her ladyship,” replied the woman, scarcely able to subdue her subs as she spoke, “ re- turned home at about a quarter to two o'clock, from Hareourt House; but the moment her ladyship alighted from the carriage, she was seized with a fainting fit—and his lordship taking her in his arms, bore her up-stairs to this chamber. I and the other maids, not hearing the carriage arrive, were not imiucdiately in attendance. But 1 was the first to come Lither; and I tound his lordship tearing off my lady’s apparel to give her air.” Here Mrs. Broughton hesitated for a few moments, and then added in a low voice and with hesitating manner, “Soon afterwards his lordship suddenly broke away, saying that he would fetch the ductor: and meuse Cuinese vases, exlaling perfumes —and some | then, sir, he weut for you.” smallur ones filled with flowers, he reached the dvor —— ———— — o“—- — = -— -- — “ J understand,” observed the pliysician. ee EE com (C <=) 0\(0)f0) (E) 3